Everyone knows I'm all about fluffy, moisturized curls & glowing skin, but one thing I have not talked much about is teeth, which are just as important! This was until I got my hands on my Smile Brilliant at home teeth whitening trays. This kit has allowed me to effortlessly gain pearly whites & I could not be more excited to take on the summer with nice tan skin and my bright, white teeth.

A smile goes a long way & I feel so much more confident knowing that my teeth are white... and let me tell you something, I thought they were white before.. HAHA! I could go on and on about the newfound love I have for this whitening kit, but I suppose you would like to know more about how it works. Before reading further, click here to read 10 facts everyone should know about teeth whitening. 

SO HOW DOES IT WORK?

Once you order a kit, Smile Brilliant with send you your dental impression kit. The kit will include your catalyst paste (white) & base paste (blue). The impression process is pretty self explanatory and there are thorough directions in the box as well. In my youtube video (posted below), I walk you through exactly how to mix the two pastes together before putting the impression int your mouth. My best advice would be to make sure you are in front a mirror & make sure you have a timer and do not take anymore time than the times that are suggested.

Once you let your impressions dry, you run them under cold water and you are all set to mail them back in your pre-paid Smile Brilliant envelope. And in no time, your package will arrive back with your fancy fitted trays!

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

I started slowly and worked my way up because my teeth are very sensitive. I did three 45min. sessions every other day. Then, when I got used to it I did three two-hour sessions every day. Keep in mind that is how long I whitened, but then i applied desensitizing gel (15 mins.) and waited 30 minutes to eat or drink after. Every mouth is different so I say feel it out. However, you may notice results in as little as one application - I did!

MY SMILE BRILLIANT EXPERIENCE

So as you may have figured out, I absolutely love my whitening kit & had nothing but positive results! The process takes a bit of time, but it is overall very simple. The BEST part is that while you whiten, you can do just about anything - I went shopping, took walks, typed emails & got my nails done while I was whitening and no one had a clue. I had little sensitivity when I first started, but the Smile Brilliant desensitizing gel works really well to eliminate that. You can click here for sensitivity solutions and preventions!  I think my new smile speaks for itself that Smile Brilliant works great to create a bright & natural smile - I have provided all of the information you need to get started, and I'll leave you with some things to know before buying. 

GIVEAWAY!!!

I've partnered with Smile Brilliant  to give one of my readers/followers a kit to enjoy for themselves! 

The kit includes: $139.95 store credit at Smile Brilliant for T3 Non-Sensitive System (Custom-Fitted Trays + 3 Whitening Gel Syringes). 

All you have to do is Click Here & Enter to Win. & add your name and email address. 

Good luck friends! xo

Special Discount for my readers: 

$15 off trays: kaittouchthis15

5% off: kaittouchthis5 

Smile Brilliant Video/How To:

3 months since my last blog post. As a new blogger and influencer, being MIA for that long is not effective, nor is it a good idea for someone with aspirations of "taking off" in the social media world. With much time of thinking and reflecting, I have decided to return, but to continue I find it necessary to share why I was gone for so long, in the first place. It has taken courage to be able to share some of what I have been dealing with, but as a social media figure-- I feel I should not only share the positive and the pretty, but also the negative and the ugly because I am sure there are others who can relate, or might be able to find inspiration after reading.

As you may know, I graduated this past December in 2016 with my Bachelor's degree. Involved in many organizations, on various executive boards, a member of the Honor's college, several internships-- I felt like I had it all together. Then, came the actual time for me to walk across the stage and receive my diploma. I made a promise to myself that I would begin worrying about jobs and my "after college life," as soon as I graduated because I wanted to enjoy my last semester of college, especially since I did not get four full years of the college life. 

Everything seemed perfect when I was in school, but the minute that I graduated... real life hit me. As a super involved student, I felt weird waking up and not having to rush to a meeting, internship, event, and/or class. But, you want to know what felt weirder? Not having anything to share on my social media, not having anything to announce, not having a new job to post about. Everyone around me seemed to have it all together; I had friends who did not even graduate and had full-time jobs set up. So instantly I felt worthless and defeated. And here's where I went wrong...  in an effort to please everyone else, I lost track of my personal desires and tried to do what I thought would "look good," "sound good," and basically receive approval. Long story short, I accepted a job offer with a company because they got back to me in a very fast matter of time. Would my position relate to my passions, goals, desires? That didn't matter, it was a job to say that I got, it was something to post about, and I now fit in with society and seemed to match the timeline of everyone else around me. So I was happy........ I thought.

About two weeks into the job, I realized what I had gotten myself into. I slowly realized that the job had nothing to do with anything I am interested in. I was miserable, not because of the long work hours but because I took a job for all of the wrong reasons. By about the third week, I felt as if I was depressed. I developed stomach pains every night and morning, and would get extremely sad at times. That is when I stopped posting and writing, and doing almost everything that I had been previously been so passionate about. The job took me away from everything, and that is when I decided it was time to talk with my boss. 

Enough about that job, because needless to say I am no longer there. However, after I stopped the job, I felt a bit better, but I still did not feel fit to continue blog posting. I thought that I did not deserve to be on my website posting until I got my life together. I didn't have that "full-time dream job" that you are supposed to get right out of school, so why should I allow myself time for writing and blogging? I don't quite know what I want to do with my life, so why should I give myself any free-time to do something I love?

After a few months of much thinking and reflecting, I finally realized that I am only hurting myself by escaping from my passions. If I want to eventually turn my hobby into a career than why should I stop my hobby? My way of thinking was so messed up, all because I didn't feel like I was in line with everyone else, and I felt like I was not doing what society expects me to do. More importantly, I have come to the realization that in life, everyone works at a different pace. We are all unique, and therefore do things differently and at different times. I was so caught up in trying to fit the timeline of everyone around me, and trying to fit in with society and say "I did it." However, in the long run I was not doing anything, but making myself miserable and depressed. Even with a love for social media, these last few months have taught me that a like on a post is nothing compared to your personal happiness. So what am I doing now? I am not 100% sure, and I am no longer afraid to admit that. I say that with significant confidence because I know that eventually I will figure it out, and slowly but surely that is what I am doing. And this time around, I will not let anything take me away from my passions. 

I share this in hopes of inspiring college students, recent college grads, those who may feel lost, or even adults who still don't know what they want to be when they grow up -- whatever you do, do it for yourself and do what feels right to you. Do not try to follow the timeline of your peers or those around you. Take your time and ask yourself, does it make me happy? 

All pictures above were taken by photographer, Darian Green. 

Often times, I only think of bold and bright colors for the spring and summertime. I picture the hot pinks, the turquoises, and the bold oranges on a hot, humid day. While those seasons do allow for fun and bright colors, whether it's adding a bright accessory to a simple outfit or going for a bold winter coat to wear on certain occasions, your brightness does not need to fully dim in the winter. 

One of my favorite ways to brighten up an outfit is by adding a touch of brightness- whether it be my lipstick color, my handbag, or shoes. In the picture above, I decided to wear my neon green handbag to pop my all black outfit. Now some days, I go for the all black but this day wasn't one of those - I needed a pop. 

Another one of my winter faves is my bright mustard colored coat. Not only is it thick and keeps me warm, but I just love the color. I have so many black and brown coats, but this is so much more fun. Pictured I am wearing one of my plaid scarfs with it to add even more colors into the mix, but there are plenty scarvess out there that coordinate, as well.

So when the winter season comes around and you think you have to limit your wardrobe to burgundy, olives, blacks, grays...think again -- there are ways to keep your bold and bright colors alive. 

Outfit details:

Black sweater top- H&M

Neon handbag- Street level handbags (found at Plato's Closet)

Mustard coat- Ciao Milano (found at Green Street Consignment)

Plaid scarf- Forever 21